Joanna Gaines

Joanna Gaines was a reality TV star who, along with her husband Chip, starred in the HGTV home remodeling series "Fixer Upper" (2013-). Born and raised in Waco, Texas, Gaines never intended on remodeling homes for a living. In fact, it was her dream to become a broadcast journalist. She attended Baylor University, located in her hometown of Waco, where she studied communications. When she wasn't studying, Gaines was working at her father's tire shop in Waco. It was while working for her father, that Gaines had her first brush of television success. A beautiful young woman with an easy demeanor on screen, Gaines' father asked her to star in local commercials for the business. The commercials were popular all throughout Waco, and particularly caught the attention of one young man named Chip Gaines. As it turned out, Chip and Joanna were actually attending Baylor at the same time, and after a chance meeting at Joanna's father's tire shop, Chip asked her out. They were married two years later, in 2003, and before long, Joanna started taking an interest in her husband's home flipping business. She eventually put her dreams of becoming a broadcast journalist aside, and instead began applying her savvy home design skills to good use by working with her husband. Together, Chip and Joanna started their own home renovation business Magnolia Homes. Their company was a huge success throughout Waco, and eventually drew the attention of network executives at HGTV. The executives wanted Joanna and Chip to star in a reality TV series based on their business. The married couple said yes and in 2013 "Fixer Upper" debuted on the network. For her part in the series, Joanna usually designed a new home, while her husband renovated it. In November of 2016 the fourth season of "Fixer Uppers" debuted on HGTV.